Paraplanner

PKF Francis Clark; Taunton; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Income protection

Health cash plan

Counselling & mental wellbeing

Cycle to work

Gym discounts

Volunteer day

EV lease

Job summary

PKF Francis Clark in Taunton is seeking a Senior Paraplanner to join our growing Financial Planning team. You will work closely with Financial Planners and Client Executives, acting as a technical specialist to shape complex strategies and deliver compliant, high-quality advice.

You will lead technical work, support colleagues’ development, and help improve processes and the client experience, in a hybrid working environment with three days in the Taunton office.

Qualifications

• Experience in paraplanning, technical administration or financial planning support.
• CII Level 4 Diploma or working towards qualification.
• Strong knowledge of pensions, investments and protection.

Responsibilities

• Support clients throughout their financial planning journey with Planners and Executives.
• Prepare clear, compliant suitability reports explaining recommendations.
• Research options using approved tools and prepare recommendations for review.
• Use cashflow modelling and scenario planning to support client conversations.
• Review fact finds, risk profiles and documentation.
• Identify missing information and liaise with providers, clients and colleagues.
• Prepare application forms and supporting documentation for new business and amendments.
• Maintain accurate client records in the CRM system.
• Stay up to date with FCA requirements and tax legislation.

Skills

Paraplanning

Financial planning support

Analytical thinking

Report writing

Time management

Team collaboration

Excel

Education

CII Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning

Tools

Financial planning software

Cashflow modelling tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office (Excel/Word)

Job description

In a nutshell

We're looking for an experienced Senior Paraplanner to join our growing Financial Planning team in Taunton.

Working closely with Financial Planners, Client Executives and fellow Paraplanners, you'll act as a trusted technical specialist, helping shape complex financial planning strategies and ensuring clients receive high-quality, compliant and practical advice. Beyond preparing suitability reports and technical research, you'll bring insight, challenge and expertise to financial planning recommendations, helping deliver excellent client outcomes.

This role offers the opportunity to take a leading technical position within the team, support the development of colleagues, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our processes and client experience.

The role is based in our Taunton office. We currently operate a hybrid working model, with colleagues working from the office three days per week.

What you'll be doing day to day

• Work closely with Financial Planners and Client Executives to support clients throughout their financial planning journey
• Prepare clear, compliant suitability reports that explain recommendations in a straightforward and understandable way
• Research suitable options using approved tools and platforms and prepare recommendations for review
• Use cashflow modelling and scenario planning to support client conversations and recommendations
• Review fact finds, risk profiles and supporting documentation
• Identify missing information and liaise with providers, clients and colleagues to obtain it
• Prepare application forms and supporting documentation for new business and policy amendments
• Maintain accurate client records within our CRM systems
• Stay up to date with FCA requirements, tax legislation and product developments
• Suggest improvements based on day-to-day experience that enhance the client experience

About you

• Experience within a paraplanning, technical administration or financial planning support role
• CII Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning (or equivalent), or actively working towards qualification
• Good technical knowledge across pensions, investments and protection
• Understanding of FCA regulations and the importance of client outcomes
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills
• Experience using financial planning software, cashflow modelling tools and CRM systems
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Word
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• A collaborative approach and willingness to learn from others
• Ambitious to continue developing your technical expertise and career within Financial Planning

Why work at PKF Francis Clark

As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisers in South West England, PKF Francis Clark offers a wide range of opportunities to develop your career in the way that’s right for you.

Established in 1919, we’ve grown to nearly 1,000 people across offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. Our size means we can offer ambitious work with exciting clients and a friendly, supportive culture.

We want you to belong, be yourself and do your best work as part of a forward-thinking team, with a flexible approach to hybrid working and a strong focus on wellbeing, learning and development.

For the past four years, PKF Francis Clark has been certified as a Great Place to Work and ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces, rising to 6th out of 100 large organisations.

We’re a top 10 Best Workplace for Women, as well as being ranked for Wellbeing, Development, and Consulting and Professional Services. These rankings are compiled by Great Place to Work, based on confidential, independent feedback from our people. In addition, we’re one of The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers.

Being a Certified B Corp means we’re held to high standards for environmental and social performance. We’re independently assessed to ensure we support our people, act responsibly and make long‑term decisions that balance people and planet.

We’re proudly independent, while collaborating internationally through the PKF Global family of firms. Together we’re the 13th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK, with connections to like‑minded advisers in 150 countries.

Your core benefits

Financial wellbeing

• Group personal pension to help you build your future savings through employer and employee contributions
• Group life assurance providing cover up to four times your basic annual salary
• Group income protection available after six months’ service
• Health cash plan giving money back on everyday health costs, with free cover for up to four dependent children (up to age 24 in full‑time education) and the option to add a partner or spouse

Mental wellbeing

• Counselling and emotional support for you and your immediate family
• Virtual GP and second opinion services for you and your immediate family
• Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders for confidential, peer to peer support

Physical wellbeing

• Cycle to work scheme, with the option to purchase a bike and accessories up to £4,000*
• Discounted membership at gyms, pools and studios across the UK
• Digital health and wellbeing tools available through the employee health cash plan
• Support for colleagues experiencing menopause, as part of our Menopause Workplace Pledge, including webinars and a dedicated Microsoft Teams channel for ongoing support

Additional benefits

• Family friendly benefits, including enhanced pay, family leave coaching sessions and a parent network
• The option to buy up to five extra days of holiday (pro rata for part‑time colleagues) *
• One paid volunteering day each year to support local organisations
• Electric vehicle lease scheme (grade and pay criteria apply) *
• Gifts to mark key career and family milestones
• Expert led webinars on mental, physical and financial wellbeing
• Francis Clark Charitable Foundation, offering support for current and former employees experiencing financial hardship

* These benefits are provided via a salary exchange and are subject to employee’s post exchange hourly rate remaining above the national minimum wage

Additional information

• Job title used internally may not align exactly with the title displayed in this advert